The Albiez guide
What regulars know about Albiez-Montrond: waymarked walks, ski hire, village shops, summer activities and the resort's evening events.
All yearThe festivals of the Arves valley, sorted by driving time
In the mountains, a village you can see from the balcony may be an hour away by road. Hence the ranking.
SummerTrail de l'Étendard and the Espace Trail des Aiguilles d'Arves
The race route also exists as a permanent waymarked trail: you can run it all summer, without a number.
SummerTradi'Cimes, the traditional festival of Albiez-Montrond
Two festivals in a fortnight in a village of 300 people — and this one costs nothing.
SummerCross Triathlon and Swimrun des Aiguilles d'Arves, at the Albiez lake
Four age brackets, four distances, the same lake — and a race that lasts a day when the week is still yours.
All yearTurin from Albiez: a day out, or the next leg
The first major Italian city sits on the other side of the massif, not at the end of a journey.
SummerPreparing for the Marmotte Granfondo Alpes from Albiez
7,500 places gone in a day. Albiez is not where to sleep on race morning — it is where to spend the week before.
SummerAlbiez, base camp for the great Maurienne passes
You sleep at 1,600 m and descend first: the last climb of the day is the one that takes you home.
SummerCelti'Cimes: the Irish music festival in Albiez
A festival where half the audience comes to learn — and where a participant stays five nights, not one.
All yearSix waymarked walks starting from Albiez-Montrond
From 40 minutes to 3½ hours, six waymarked routes leaving from the village or the Mollard — junction by junction.
WinterSkiing Albiez from the Mollard sector: chairlifts, drag lifts and pistes
The Mollard is the highest of the resort's sectors. Here is which lift to start with, depending on your level.
WinterSki hire in Albiez-Montrond: the four shops and how to pay less
Three hire shops 250 m from the apartment, a fourth in the village, and a discount every time you book ahead. Our own choice: Sport 2000 Aux Deux Frères.
WinterSki lessons in Albiez: the ESF, the Piou-Piou club and the Mollard meeting point
One trap to avoid: the ski school has two meeting points. From the Mollard, book the Mollard one.
All yearFood shopping in Albiez-Montrond: village shops and the stop in Saint-Jean
The sensible routine: the big shop in Saint-Jean on the way up, top-ups and Savoyard produce in the village.
All yearLe Moulin Valentin, the bakery of Albiez-Montrond
A bakery whose story starts in 1694 — and a bacon-and-cheese 'pain yéti' that settles the picnic question.
All yearBeaufort des Arves: the cooperative dairy to stock up on cheese
Summer or winter Beaufort is not the same cheese. A shop in Albiez-Montrond, and a raclette grill waiting in the apartment.
All yearAlbiez-Montrond with children: childcare, sledging, swimming and playgrounds
Two childcare options, a sledging run next to the residence and a supervised lake in summer — here is what actually exists.
All yearThe Aiguilles d'Arves, the trio you see from the balcony
"The finest trio in the Alps", said Coolidge. Two ways to get closer to them — one very easy, one not.
- Summer
The Col du Mollard by bike: three climbs and the Arvan-Villards loop
A Tour de France col whose summit is our village. Three ways up, plus a loop linking the Glandon, the Croix de Fer and the Mollard.
WinterHusky sledding in Albiez-Montrond
€45 for adults, €40 for children, leaving from the village — and a booking you should make well before you arrive.
WinterThe Albiez C'Show, Tuesday night on the Mollard snow front
It happens on the Mollard snow front, 250 m from the apartment — and children from 'flocon' level up can join the torchlit descent.
SummerThe Mollard lake: supervised swimming, inflatables and a leisure area
Paddling pool, inflatable play structure, pétanque, volleyball and picnic tables — all three minutes' walk away.
SummerThe Rival forest, from 1,300 m up to the Col du Mollard
700 metres of forest, mushrooms, waterfalls — and deer you can hear rutting in the autumn.
SummerLe Chalet d'la Croë, a refuge at 2,076 m below the Aiguilles d'Arves
A crêpe or a raclette mid-hike, and geodesic domes to sleep under the alpine night sky.
SummerLe Kavalkada: horse and pony rides 300 m from the apartment
From a half-hour pony ride around the Châtel to a half-day trek across the Cochette meadows.
SummerFrance's highest BMX track, and mountain biking in Albiez
A freely accessible BMX race track, ringed by football, basketball and tennis courts and a picnic area.